"We the People of the United States, in order to form a more a more perfect Union...."

The American system of government is founded on
two
counterbalancing principles: that the majority of the people governs,
through democratically elected representatives; and that the power even
of a democratic majority must be limited, to ensure individual rights.

Majority power is limited by the Constitution's
Bill of
Rights, which consists of the original ten amendments
ratified in 1791,
plus the three post-Civil War amendments (the 13th, 14th and 15th) and
the 19th Amendment (women's suffrage), adopted in 1920.

"So long as we have enough people in this
country willing to fight for
their rights, we'll be called a democracy,"